'Transformer' Robots May Appear in Film

AP ^ | ANTHONY BREZNICAN

[Sir Gawain]

'Transformer' Robots May Appear in Film

 

Jun 12, 11:13 AM (ET)

By ANTHONY BREZNICAN

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The shape-shifting "Transformer" robots from the 1980s may soon be using 20-something nostalgia to fuel a Hollywood movie.

The Hasbro Inc. (HAS) toy company has teamed with the production company Angry Films to create a live-action version of the popular cartoon series that ran from 1984 to 1987, about a group of alien robots who disguise themselves on Earth as common vehicles.

"The basic thing is that if you've been going to the comic-book festivals and seeing all that stuff, the '80s kind of came back last year in a huge way," Angry Films producer Don Murphy said Wednesday.

"We figured the technology had finally caught up to the point where we could actually show an 18-wheel truck turning into a giant robot," added Murphy, who also helped make the upcoming comic book movie "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."

The story of "The Transformers" centers on a war between two mechanized armies - the heroic Autobots, led by the red tractor-trailer Optimus Prime, and the evil Decepticons, ruled by the gigantic silver gun Megatron. Seeking new sources of energy, both factions crash-land on Earth.

Although the "Transformers" toys have changed over the years - from animal shapes to the current series of futuristic machines - Murphy said the movie would be based on the original lineup.

The 1980s Hasbro toys, which the cartoon helped turn into a money-machine for the company, have recently been reissued by the original Japanese manufacturer, Takara Co. A recent comic book based on "The Transformers" and a DVD of the original cartoon series have also become best sellers.

Murphy and his producing partner, Tom DeSanto, whose credits include "X-Men" and "X2: X-Men United," are still in the early stages of the "Transformers" movie. The project has not yet settled at a studio and no potential release date has been set.

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On the Net:

http://www.hasbro.com/

[Paul C. Jesup]

If you can tell us what it turned into, I can probably tell you what it is.

[The Coopster]

You're right. In fact, it's worse than that. I've developed a secret love for Transformers, as my son has discovered them. My only hope for feeling more like a man is to come here and poke fun at you. ;-)

It's ALL good, man. I've been a cartoon buff my whole life. Just poking a little fun in a good-natured way. Hope I didn't offend.

Over 6 feet and 180? Maybe this picture would've been better:

[OXENinFLA]

Cool

[Paul C. Jesup]

You're right. In fact, it's worse than that. I've developed a secret love for Transformers, as my son has discovered them. My only hope for feeling more like a man is to come here and poke fun at you. ;-)

I knew it. You might want to look into getting the DVD Boxsets of the original Transformer series, released by Rhino. They are worth the money and Rhino fixed a LOT of animation errors in the series.

The only errors I did not like was a little fuss in a couple of scenes in season 1 and in episode 15 where Prime transforms in reverse to what the scene calls for.

Select the 2 channel stereo on the DVDs to get the near close to the original audio.

It's ALL good, man. I've been a cartoon buff my whole life. Just poking a little fun in a good-natured way. Hope I didn't offend.

You need to go to an Anime Convention sometime. You'll have fun just seeing how sane you are to everyone else there.

Over 6 feet and 180? Maybe this picture would've been better:

I am not that thin.

[The Coopster]

You know, I tried to get out of the industry i'm in once, and worked for a large A/V company here in Indy. I had the opportunity to work an Anime/Gamers convention.

I won't go into sordid details here, but, suffice to say that I was enlightened, to say the least.

[Paul C. Jesup]

I know, it is like taking a three day vacation in the Twilight Zone, fun but I would not want to live there.

[Miss Marple]

I want the old 80's cartoons from Nickelodeon: Cities of Gold, Belle and Sebastian, and David the Gnome. I am tired of what's on now.

Pokemon is incomprehensible, if you want my opinion.

And I have one member of my extended family who is hooked on Anime. It is not a recommendation, IMHO.

[Paul C. Jesup]

You might find it interesting to know that Cities of Gold was an anime.

[HitmanLV]

Hmmmm...certainly there is more than meets the eye, here.

Transformers was probably the best comic book based on a toy line of its era, with GI Joe coming up later and having a good run. Transformers comics eclipsed the toy line and was much better than it had any right being!

[The Coopster]

I want Danger Mouse to make a comeback....

A pic, in case anyone doubts his existance....

[Miss Marple]

Yes, but it was before anime got really, really strange.

[Paul C. Jesup]

Anyone who actually look into the history of the Transformers series itself, they would be surprised to learn that series REFUSES to die. It is just continued in one form or another both here in the U.S. and in Japan.

[The Coopster]

Exactly. The worst part is that the hotel where it was hosted had to drain and scrub their pool afterward....

What is it with the Ubernerds and hygeine?

[Paul C. Jesup]

Yes, but it was before anime got really, really strange.

You missed the last of parts of Cities of Gold didn't you. Now those flying ships were strange to put in that series.

[Paul C. Jesup]

What is it with the Ubernerds and hygeine?

Newer Anime Cons have posted rules that you have to take a shower and put on deodorant every 24 hours.

[Miss Marple]

No one ever believes me that this cartoon was on in the late 60's:

Do you think Senator Edwards watched this one? Heheheh.

[Duke Nukum]

It didn't actually turn into anything, its parts were just interchangable, so you could disassemble and reassemble it in different ways.

I think it was this:

Biotron : Biotron is the workhorse of the Micronauts, and is probably the biggest (at least in weight and bulk). He has a motorized track on his back for motion while lying down, and he also walks by himself, albeit rather slowly. There is a clear plastic cockpit on his front where a figure can be placed to pilot him. Biotron's hands are spring loaded clips and his arm and head sockets are motorized. Some of the MEGO literature suggests that Biotron is actually the leader of the Micronauts, or at least their greatest weapon against the evil Baron Karza.

http://www.micro-outpost.com/pictures/giants/giants.html

[Paul C. Jesup]

Oh okay.

[The Coopster]

Well, thank goodness. They were giving the rest of us a bad name!

[Miss Marple]

Oh, you are right! I forgot about those weird aliens living in the Andes!!

I watched this with my daughter. It was better than the Care Bears, after all.